Michael Buhr from C100

Michael Buhr from C100

Author: Evan McCann March 12, 2025 Duration: 51:30

Michael Buhr is the Executive Director of the C100.


Michael is a seasoned technology executive with over 30 years of experience in Silicon Valley and is the Executive Director of C100, a 350+ member association of Canadian tech veterans, many with Silicon Valley roots, dedicated to helping Canadian entrepreneurs build and scale globally impactful companies.


C100's programs - for early- and growth-stage companies - accelerate the success of Canada’s top tech entrepreneurs by connecting high-potential founders and executives to a global network of seasoned entrepreneurs, operators, and investors.


Takeaways

- C100 and Its Purpose

- The Canadian Expat Community in the Bay Area

- Shifts in Entrepreneurial Landscape and the Importance of Connection

- Challenges in Growth Stage and Term Sheet Dynamics

- Mentorship and the Unique Canadian Affinity to Help

- Common Challenges Faced by Early Stage Companies

- C100's Programs - Fellows, Growth, Summit & 48 Hours.

- Thinking Big: The Canadian Entrepreneurial Mindset

- Navigating Growth Stages

- The Canadian Talent Pool and Silicon Valley's Interest

- The Importance of In-Person Connections

- Building Bridges: Connecting Canadian and Silicon Valley Entrepreneurs


Chapters

00:00 Introduction to C100 and Its Purpose

02:27 The Canadian Expat Community in the Bay Area

11:41 Shifts in Entrepreneurial Landscape and the Importance of Connection

18:58 Challenges in Growth Stage and Term Sheet Dynamics

24:10 Mentorship and the Unique Canadian Affinity to Help

26:31 Common Challenges Faced by Early Stage Companies

27:59 Thinking Big: The Canadian Entrepreneurial Mindset

29:25 Navigating Growth Stages in Business

33:19 The Canadian Talent Pool and Silicon Valley's Interest

36:05 The Importance of In-Person Connections

41:50 Building Bridges: Connecting Canadian and Silicon Valley Entrepreneurs

45:19 Insights from Current Reads and Future Aspirations

49:00 Resilience in Entrepreneurship: Overcoming Hard Times


Keywords

C100, Canadian expats, entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley, mentorship, growth stage, term sheets, Canadian startups, networking, investment, Canadian entrepreneurs, Silicon Valley, business growth, networking, resilience, innovation, mentorship, tech ecosystem, investment, leadership


Evan McCann sits down with the people shaping Canada's business landscape, moving past the polished success stories to get into the real work that happens behind the scenes. The Hard Part with Evan McCann is built on conversations with founders, investors, and leaders who have navigated unique challenges, focusing on the pivotal decisions and often overlooked struggles that define a venture. This podcast explores the specific strategies and personal playbooks that have driven impact, offering a rare look at the operational truths of building something significant. While the spotlight frequently falls on innovators elsewhere, these episodes are dedicated to the Canadian visionaries whose work is redefining global entrepreneurship from here at home. You'll hear candid reflections on risk, resilience, and the moments that tested their conviction, providing not just inspiration but tangible insight into the mechanics of leadership and growth. Each discussion aims to unpack the nuance of achievement, making it an essential listen for anyone curious about the substance behind the headlines in the Canadian business world.
Author: Language: en-ca Episodes: 100

The Hard Part with Evan McCann
Podcast Episodes
Chloe Liang from Cocasa [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:15
Chloe Liang is the Co-Founder of Cocasa.Cocasa is revolutionizing travel and property ownership by allowing members to buy equity in luxurious holiday homes from €39,000/10% share.Chapters00:00 Podcast Introduction2:00 F…
Kyle Norton from Owner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:40
Kyle Norton is the Chief Revenue Officer at Owner.Chapters0:00 Podcast Intro2:00 Evaluating Companies: The Key Factors07:38 Building a Revenue Team: Initial Steps and Strategies11:39 Quality Over Quantity: The Importance…
Benjamin Bergen from Council of Canadian Innovators [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:34
Benjamin Bergen is the President at Council of Canadian Innovators (CCI).CCI is a member-based organization reshaping how governments across Canada think about innovation policy and supporting homegrown scale-ups to driv…
Nicole LeBlanc from Woven Capital [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:16
Nicole LeBlanc is a Partner at Woven Capital.Woven Capital is the $800M investment arm of Toyota Motor Corporation. Their aim is to broaden the group’s global reach and accelerate innovation by investing in exceptional g…
Anthony Azrak and Jai Mansukhani from OpenSesame [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:30
Anthony Azrak and Jai Mansukhani are the Co-Founders of OpenSesame.OpenSesame is building Cell, an embedded AI agent layer that lets users explore, understand, and take action inside any SaaS product using natural langua…
Derek Bullen from S.i. Systems [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:13
Derek Bullen is the Founder and Board Director of S.i. Systems.S.i. Systems is one of the largest Canadian IT staffing and consulting firms that connects organizations with skilled technology professionals. They speciali…
Emily Luk from Wealthsimple [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:07
Emily Luk is a member of the Product team at Wealthsimple.She previously Co-Founded Plenty, which was acquired by Wealthsimple.Chapters00:00 Emily's Journey: From Venture, Stripe and Even.05:44 Cultural Insights from Str…
Matthew Lombardi from The Icebreaker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:59
Matthew Lombardi co-founded The Icebreaker with Jeff Waite and Michael Edwards.The Icebreaker is Canada's defence innovation network, trusted by founders and funders, operators and professionals at DND and the CAF, defen…
Carter Li from SWTCH [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:47
Carter Li is the CEO of SWTCH.SWTCH - https://swtchenergy.com/Chapters00:00 Genesis of SWTCH: A Personal Journey05:35 Challenges of EV Charging in Existing Infrastructure08:06 Designing Charging Solutions Based on Dwell…
Simon Hørup Eskildsen from turbopuffer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:20
Simon Hørup Eskildsen is the Co-Founder and CEO of turbopuffer.turbopuffer is a fast search engine that combines vector and full-text search using object storage, making all your data easily searchable.Chapters00:00 Intr…